Sometimes we need a helping hand.... by robz

Sometimes we need a helping hand....

This is for the composite challenge: https://365project.org/discuss/themes-competitions/32193/composite-11-starts-today
The theme is "darkness". The sadness of Depression and its effects has been a focal point for conversations in our country - as highlighted by the "R U OK" project. ( The skull is one of my images but the hand is not)
Very creative!
October 15th, 2018  
An evocative image :)
October 15th, 2018  
Great composite. Well done
October 15th, 2018  
Ko*
I remeber your reaction on my "chucky" picture, the damaged doll head :) Now you show a crystal skull.... now for the picture.. looks super Rob hahaha
October 15th, 2018  
Lee
You have a creative mind. Well done.
October 15th, 2018  
This is clever Rob. Mental health is a big issue here too.
October 15th, 2018  
I think it's a global issue- so many people struggle here with this as well. The tragedy hit our family hard in 2014 with my brother-in-law's suicide. I'm glad to see that there are more and more resources out there for people who are struggling. Good shot to illustrate your theme.
October 16th, 2018  
Very thought-provoking image Rob. I've had my battles with the black dog, but think I'm outta the woods now.
October 16th, 2018  
Wow, striking image! @olivetreeann So sorry for your loss. I lost a friend the same way in the same year. It's painful stuff.
October 16th, 2018  
Very creative and a powerful edit
October 16th, 2018  
@madeinnl I must be following in your footsteps Ko!! :)
October 17th, 2018  
@gamelee Thanks Lee - I think the theme of "darkness" leads to so many places.
October 17th, 2018  
@rosie00 Thanks Lesley - we have several friends (of varying ages) who live with it - it's not easy for them,
October 17th, 2018  
@olivetreeann I'm so sorry to hear about your brother-in-law. It is so tragic for the family left behind. The R U OK project seems to have helped a lot over here.
October 17th, 2018  
@golftragic Hi Marnie - we have several friends(of varying ages) who suffer from depression, They cope with it to varying degrees of success. One of them says that the drugs he needs to take make him so tired he doesn't want to do anything - and that then makes it worse. I'm so pleased to hear you say that you feel you have beaten it. XX
October 17th, 2018  
@casablanca It is a horrible condition - but with more public recognition it seems that more people cope by drawing on their group of friends and family for positive understanding and reinforcement when they call out for help. The three young people that we know have very strong support groups and lead positive, productive lives - even though they still have dark days and sometimes weeks. I'm so sorry to hear of your friend - a sad loss for you and his/her family. XX
October 17th, 2018  
@robz In my experience anti-depressants do reduce the amplitude of the lows, but they also iron out the highs which is not so good. I didn't realise it at the time, thought it was just stress, but I had severe depression in my last couple of years at work. The usual 'productivity/efficiency' shit with staff-cuts, doubled work-loads and a whole bunch more. Doddled along OK after I retired until I became one of the cursed recipients of a Johnson&Johnson DePuy ACR hip prosthesis (metal-on-metal). Very long story, short version: failure rates around 50%, metallosis (chrome, cobalt, titanium, manganese and more) from the nano-particles that shaved off every time the ball-head moved in the socket (major design fault), class-actions all over the world. I finished up with three 'revisions' after the original op due to the effects of the metallosis which caused gluteus medius and minimus to 'blow off' under huge pressure so had to be re-attached. End result, one permanently buggered hip, significantly impaired movement and a large part of my active life ruined. All of which led to 're-active' depression. It's taken me years, but with Les's TLC I've just been able to dispense with the anti-depressants and feel so much happier. Every time I hear the words 'Johnson&Johnson' my BP goes through the roof. Thanks for caring. XX
October 17th, 2018  
@golftragic Hi Marnie - The first half of your story is unfortunately so very common in teaching - somehow modern changes have managed to take a profession that so many people loved and turn it into a job where the drop-out rate in new teachers is astronomical. And for us older folks - most of us didn't realize how stressed we were until after we retired. But what happened to you with your hip is just unbelievable! How can a product like that ever be put on the market? You sound as though your case could easily be part of the class action - but surely that would just make it so much harder to get your life and mind back together? You are very lucky to have such a supportive partner. And being able to lay golf again must give you a great outlet. Keep swinging that club and clicking that shutter!! Cheers Rob
October 19th, 2018  
Great composite and well done. It tells an important story - so sad for many people and how it affects families.
The caption is perfect for the six word story!
Thank you for entering the challenge.
October 20th, 2018  
@farmreporter No worries Wendy - the sixws challenge is always a goodun!
October 21st, 2018  
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